About us
Immersion English –
English for Life.
We're a small, experienced team with one goal: to help you use English with real confidence. Not just study it.
Where learning connects with your life.
Immersion English was founded in Sofia by a CELTA-qualified Irish teacher and an international education expert with a shared belief: that real progress in English comes from using it, not memorising it.
We work with adult learners and teenagers who want to communicate clearly and confidently – in exams, in work, in life. Our lessons are built around you: your goals, your level, your world.
Progress you can feel from day one.
We use real-world materials, communicative methods, and honest feedback – so every lesson moves you forward.
Authentic materials
Books, drama series, podcasts, and current news – we use rich, real-world English that turns language learning from a chore into something you actually look forward to.
Personal to you
Your interests, your goals, your pace. We tailor every course to the individual – because no two learners follow exactly the same path.
Communication over memorisation
We go beyond grammar drills. Speaking, thinking, and communicating in English naturally and independently is always the goal.
Small team. Big expertise.
Three people who care deeply about language, learning, and the confidence that comes from both.
Founder
Cathal (Lenny) Leonard
Senior English Teacher · CELTA-qualified · British Council ESAT-J Examiner
Cathal – known to students as Lenny – is a native Irish, CELTA-qualified English teacher with over ten years of experience working with teenage and adult learners. He has taught at the British Council in Sofia and led international summer programmes in Oxford and Brighton.
Lenny specialises in exam preparation – with a strong track record of guiding students to success in Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) and IELTS – as well as speaking-focused general English and professional communication. He holds a BA from NUI Galway and an MA in Political Science from Queen's University Belfast.
His lessons are lively, focused, and full of humour. Students leave not just with better English, but with the confidence to use it. When he's not teaching, he's usually playing (or attempting to play) his guitar.
Lina Georgieva
Co-founder, Dublin Summer Programme · Marketing & Business Development Manager
Lina is the co-founder of the Immersion English Dublin Summer Programme. With over a decade of international experience in education, communications, and marketing, she brings the strategic vision and creative energy that shaped the programme from the ground up.
A graduate of Hunter College, City University of New York (BA in Film and Media Studies), Lina currently works as Global Capability Development Manager at the British Council – leading initiatives that connect learners, teachers, and institutions across the world.
Bilingual in English and Bulgarian and fluent in several other languages, Lina is also a certified yoga teacher. The Dublin Summer Programme is her way of bringing together her passions for language, culture, travel, and meaningful learning experiences for young people.
Liana (Lia) Zheleva
Teaching Assistant · Bilingual EN / BG
Lia is a final-year student at the National Fine Arts High School in Sofia, where she has developed a passion for creativity, expression, and human connection. Bilingual in English and Bulgarian, she brings a warm, grounded presence to the Immersion English team.
Having attended The Lir Academy's Young Actors Summer Programme in Dublin, Lia knows the city and its culture first-hand – giving her a genuine connection to everything the Immersion English Summer Programme offers its students.
Passionate about theatre, music, and working with people, Lia supports both teachers and students on the programme – helping create an environment where learning feels natural, fun, and genuinely memorable.
Real results. Real students.
Every quote below is from a real student – unedited and unprompted.
"Lenny is the most motivational English teacher I've ever met! His way of teaching involves so many kinds of innovative methods that you'll be studying in an atmosphere of fun, professionalism and individual attention on your own needs. I strongly recommend!"
Natalya Baleva
"Lenny is a great teacher and he helped me to learn and start using English as I wanted. I like his style of teaching – he involves grammar, vocabulary and exercises while we are chatting, reading and discussing daily topics. Highly recommend!"
Dobromira Kozhuharova
"If you can read this – perhaps you know some English. But if you want to experience the real beauty and pleasure of being fluent, you need Lenny! With his professionalism and charm he can easily turn this educational journey into a pure joy."
Petia Aranudova
"I always knew my puzzle of English knowledge had missing pieces, but was sure I was too old to add them. Lenny's teaching not only helped me to learn and remember without knowing how, but also to become more confident in conversations. Very fast, attending the course became a breath of fresh air after a long working day."
Zornitsa Dermendzhieva-Stoynova
Ready to get started?
Book a free consultation and we'll find the right course or programme for your goals – no obligation.